Years ago, I was fly fishing with DNR Upland game specialist Al Stewart on the edge of a small lake on Isle Royale.
“Hear that,” Stewart asked? “That’s a ruby throated, red face, long tailed such and such,” he explained.
No, there is no such bird and the exact species is lost in memory. Stewart was able to identify the bird by listening to its chirp or song.
Fast-forward to a couple weeks ago and Stewart, along with outdoor writer Tom Huggler, were having dinner in a London, England restaurant prior to Stewart being made a member of the “Woodcock Doubles Club.”
“I was invited to speak at the club about banding woodcock along with a woodcock researcher,” he said.
Previously, Stewart had invited club members to come to Michigan for the International Woodcock Symposium. In turn, the U.K. members invited Stewart to speak at several events.
Admission into the Woodcock Doubles Club - a worldwide organization - and one of the top 10 exclusive clubs in the world is very prestigious.
There are less than 2,000 persons in the world that have accomplished a right and left kill on European woodcock.
“Shooting two in that way is hard but what makes it really difficult is there has to be three witnesses,” Stewart said.
Downplaying his expertise with a side-by side shotgun, Stewart said, “I think it takes more luck than skill, but it placed me in this unique class.
“Because I shot it in Ukraine and the Crimea made it more significant. Most hunters don’t hunt woodcock there.
Most of the hunting I have done (in Europe) has been in England on driven hunts.
“I had the good fortune to register for an Eurasian and American woodcock.” His prize was admission to the prestigious club and a necktie.
While in the U.K. Stewart and Huggler were invited to a black tie event - the 30th anniversary dinner - hosted in Blenheim Palace, the palace of Winston Churchill.
“The only palace nicer than this one belongs to the queen,” Stewart said. Churchill was born and buried at this palace, the only non- royal, non-Episcopal palace in the U.K.
It was a gift to John Churchill first duke of Marlborough from Queen Anne following Marlborough’s great victory in 1704 at Blenheim.
The woodcock club was established in 1949 then reestablished in 1983. It used to be called the Bolf Fppin Club, and then in 1983 became The Shooting Times Wooodcock Club, according to Stewart.
“I didn’t realize the depth of this until we were on our way home. This is pretty neat,” Stewart said.
“I’m very humbled and lucky to be inducted into the Woodcock Doubles Club and more importantly to be invited to speak at an international level about woodcock with other world leaders,” he said.
Stewart’s speaking engagements included the Game and Wildlife Trust in the U.K., a combination of our DNR and U.S. Fisheries and the RAF on Piccadilly in London.
“Their woodcock network is like our Michigan banding program, and is headed in the U.K. by Owen Williams.
“The woodcock biologist for the U.K. is Andrew Hoodless,” Stewart said.
Describing woodcock, Stewart said, “Eurasian woodcock are about the size of ruffed grouse. Their breast feathers are kind of variegated or squiggly instead of brownish tan like American woodcock.
“European guns with woodcock engraved on them show dappling on breast feathers.
“They nest in Russia and some Scandinavian countries, then migrate from there south into part of Ukraine and U.K., Ireland and France.”
“In the Ukraine, birds are hunted with dogs but in the U.K. hunts are driven. American woodcock nest in Michigan and winter in Louisiana.”
Stewart has been with the DNR over 40 years, serving throughout the state.
He’s been the state’s upland game specialist for the past 15 years. A reminder to woodcock hunters when purchasing hunting licenses be sure and ask for your free, federal woodcock stamp required for woodcock hunting.Notes
According to shootingtimes.co.uk Woodcock Club membership follows:
Entry to the exclusive Woodcock Club is exacting but relatively straightforward - shoot a witnessed right and left and you’re eligible.
The privilege of membership is through the achievement of shooting a right-and-left at woodcock before two witnesses. Note that a gun must not be lowered between shots.
As a member of the club you will be sent a certificate, a tie, a badge and an invitation to the annual dinner, which this year takes place in the magnificent Orangery at Blenheim Palace on Friday the 21st of March, 2014. This event provides an opportunity for members to meet, exchange news and bid for the fantastic lots in the charity auction (in aid of the Game Conservancy Trust’s research into woodcock).
Members will be kept informed with a regular newsletter.
If you think you are eligible to join, or for more information, contact Katharina Doyle on 020 3148 4741 or e-mail katharina_doyle@ipcmedia.com.More notes
The 5th annual No-Mo kayak-fishing tournament to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation will be held May 18. Registration form, rules and other pertinent information may be found at kayakfishthegreatlakes.com.
Cabela’s National Walleye Tour opens the 2014 season on the Detroit River, April 25-26, at Trenton.
This is a pro-am event that will include three regular-season events with a year-end championship.
Anglers will launch Friday and Saturday mornings at 7 a.m. from Elizabeth Park (Jefferson St., Trenton, MI 48183) and return to the park at 3:00 p.m. for the weigh-ins each day.
The National Professional Anglers Association will host a NPAA “Future Angler” program for children after Saturday’s weigh-in, at approximately 4:15 p.m., featuring an educational seminar and training for youth from top-notch NPAA members.
The youth-orientated event will include a “Free” rod/reel combo or “Future Pro” t-shirt for the first 100 children who attend the educational program. The event will take place on Sunday in the event of any weather cancellations on Saturday.
For more details, anglers are encouraged to call (612) 424-0708 or (501) 317-7548 or check out the new website at www.nationalwalleyetour.com. Site visitors can register for events, view the contingency programs and TV schedule and learn more about what’s in-store for 2014.
2014 Remaining Scheduled Events
- April 25-26 – Trenton, Mich. – Detroit River
- June 27-28 – Mobridge, S.D. – Missouri River/Lake Oahe
- August 29-30 – Escanaba, Mich. – Bays de Noc
- Championship – September 18-20 – Oshkosh, Wis. – Lake WinnebagoRoger Beukema writes a weekly outdoors column for 21st Century Newspapers. Email him at hutchbeukema@comcast.net and read his blog at theoaklandpress.com.